Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Clackamas, OR

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) CCHT in the Transitional Care Unit (TCU) plays a crucial role in providing safe and effective dialysis therapy to patients, with a specific focus on those who may transition to Home Hemodialysis. This role operates under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and adheres to organizational policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements. The PCT is responsible for the setup and operation of hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and actively participating in quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient outcomes and satisfaction. The position involves educating patients on dialysis adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as well as performing and monitoring dialysis treatments from initiation to discontinuation. This includes evaluating patient well-being, assessing vascular access, administering heparin, obtaining vital signs and weights, programming dialysis machines, and intervening in intradialytic issues. The PCT also ensures accurate documentation, conducts machine safety checks, prepares laboratory specimens, and manages supplies efficiently. In the TCU, the PCT follows new patients for their first four weeks, reinforcing education, coordinating care with various disciplines, and assisting patients in understanding home dialysis options and products. They also demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup and assist with the coordination of the patient's chosen modality and supply ordering for the TCU.

Requirements

High School diploma or G.E.D. required.
Must meet Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services (CMS)-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
All appropriate state licensure, education, and training (if any) required.
Demonstrated commitment to organization culture, values, and customer service standards.
Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or a related facility preferred.
Continued employment is dependent on successful completion of the organization dialysis training program and successful completion of CPR certification.

Responsibilities

Functions as part of the dialysis health care team in providing safe and effective dialysis therapy for patients under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse.
Responsible for the setup and operation of hemodialysis machines.
Assist in the maintenance of a safe and clean working environment.
Supports the organization commitment to the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and CQI Activities.
Assist other health care members in providing patient specific detailed education regarding adequacy measures where appropriate - Online Clearance Monitoring (OLC), Adequacy Monitoring Program (AMP), Urea Kinetic Modeling (UKM), and regarding disease process/access.
Welcome assigned patients and inquire as to their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform vascular access cannulation, and perform administration of heparin as delegated or as allowed by state law.
Obtain necessary pre and post treatment vital signs and weight and perform vascular access evaluation pre- treatment.
Initiate dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders including blood flow (QB) and dialysate flow (QD).
Evaluate intradialytic problems and provide intervention as prescribed by physician order or as directed.
Monitor patients’ response to dialysis therapy.
Obtain vital signs prior to reinfusion; perform all relevant functions necessary for the discontinuation of treatment - document.
Discontinue dialysis treatment according to established procedures and evaluate patient prior to termination of venous access - standing & sitting blood pressure.
Obtain Hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings.
Evaluate the patient prior to discharge.
Perform and record Pre and Post dialysis evaluation, weight, and vital signs with initial identification.
Responsible for calculating and entry of individual patients’ dialysis machine programming for Ultrafiltration (UF) goal; treatment time; and UF modeling as prescribed.
Responsible for ensuring appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, (NVL) 160.
Record accurate and timely information regarding vital signs and treatment parameters onto the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet with initial identification.
Responsible for accurate documentation of information related to patient treatment including completion of Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet and, if applicable, progress notes.
Report any significant information and/or change in patient condition directly to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patient and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Report any change or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform and document any intervention for unusual patient status and document patients' response to intervention.
Evaluate patients’ vascular access during treatment including arterial and venous monitoring pressures, provide appropriate intervention as needed, document and report any unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain all prescribed laboratory testing and prepare specimens for collection.
Ensure that all blood spills are immediately cleaned with appropriate disinfectant according to facility policy.
Prepare, organize, and efficiently utilize supplies and equipment to prevent wastage.
Monitors patients performing self-care under the supervision of RN.
Assists in training of applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under the supervision of a nurse.
Follows all organization business policies, procedures and systems incorporated into training, including compliance with ethical business practices.
Maintain environmental integrity and aesthetics - ensure all areas are safe and clean.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surface, chair, equipment, and surrounding area between treatments according to facility policy.
Conduct all tasks necessary for preparation for dialysis treatment and document where appropriate and perform all required pretreatment dialysis machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT).
Initiate Solution Delivery System (SDS) system.
Complete and document ongoing participation in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities.
Enters all treatment data into the designated clinical application in an accurate and timely manner.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure nursing signatures are documented, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient chart for admission and compile paperwork for appropriate placement in chart.
Prepare/print lab requisitions for prescribed or stat Lab specimens according to laboratory destination.
Collect, label, appropriately prepare and store lab samples according required laboratory specifications.
Ensure collection of lab specimens by appropriate lab courier.
Assists in collecting information for infection control audits.
Supports staff and patient Adherence to infection control practices.
Follows infection control Policies and Procedures.
Participates in and reinforces infection control education of patients and families under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed by state law.
Follows all newly admitted patients through their first 4 weeks of dialysis and coordinating their transitional dialysis care.
Reinforces all education and care related matters as it relates to the new patient as allowed by state law.
Liaisons with appropriate FKC staff members to provide the best patient experience including making sure all disciplines are scheduled to see patient according to plan.
Assists in assuring patient understanding or home dialysis products, benefits of home and how home dialysis can work for them.
Sets and preforms a treatment on all machines used in the transitional care unit.
Assist in assuring patient understanding of treatment options including demonstration of the peritoneal dialysis set-up.
Assists with coordination of transition to patient’s modality choice.
Assists with supply ordering and inventory for TCU.